Accommodations and Food

Sunrise Recovery Ranch keeps its program fairly small, housing only 30 clients at a time in the foothills of Big Bear Mountain in Riverside, California. The facility itself has plenty of natural charm: the property is nine acres of green pasture and scenic mountain views. Clients have plenty of space to walk and meditate by the on-site pool. Driving in, Sunrise has no trace of hospital or “facility”—the main building is a traditional brown ranch house with a wide porch. The outside looks humble, but the foyer has carefully exposed rafters and intricately designed doors. The living room, where clients are allowed to watch TV before lights out, is comfortable and furnished by cushy couches. The bedrooms are shared, but thoughtfully decorated in blue, brown, and cream, like something out of a Pottery Barn catalogue. Each client has a twin bed, nightstand, bedside lamp and dresser.

While clients are responsible for keeping their own rooms clean, they’re off the hook when it comes to meals. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are prepared by a gourmet chef who has experience in North and South American, Asian and European cuisine; clients eat all meals together in the dining room.

Treatment and Staff

Sunrise Recovery offers a medically managed detox with a nurse available around the clock to administer any necessary medications. Residents either start in detox or begin with the 30-day residential treatment program. If, when the time comes, they’re interested in the continued care Sunrise Recovery recommends, they have the option of following up with the 90-day program at affiliate facility Sober Living by the Sea in Newport, California.

The days are long at Sunrise Recovery, beginning at 6:30 in the morning and winding down at 10:30 pm at night. Every moment is structured except for the hour before bed, when residents can watch TV, read or journal. The central aspect of Sunrise’s recovery agenda is the 12-step program. In addition to on-site meetings, clients have the opportunity to attend AA and NA meetings in the community.

Clients have significant support from the clinical team at Sunrise; from the get-go they are assigned a primary counselor for one-on-one therapy and have a consultation with the staff psychiatrist (who may recommend medication in the event of a co-occurring disorder like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder). There’s a two-to-one client-to-staff ratio, and many of the staff are in recovery themselves. The staff consists of a consulting physician, nurses, case managers, drug and alcohol counselors and a marriage and family specialist.

Male and female clients attend evening 12-step meetings and weekend outings together, but therapeutic activities during the week are in large measure gender-specific. Groups meet before and after lunch Monday through Friday and on Saturday mornings. Morning group is typically a didactic lecture on addiction while afternoon groups focus on topics like the impact of addiction, emotional wellness, relapse prevention and spiritual exploration. Once a week, clients collect for a co-ed afternoon Big Book study. On Tuesdays, female clients have a trauma focus group and male clients meet for a group that explores the medical features of addiction. While men meet for a process group on Friday morning, female clients meet for a group on emotional regulation where they discuss issues of codependency and grief.

Extras

Sunrise Recovery offers art and equine therapy in addition to hiking, swimming, yoga, softball, bowling, movies and cultural excursions to the museum or the botanical gardens. There is a pool, a basketball court and a gym on-site with cardio machines, lifting equipment and free weights.

In Summary

Sunrise Recovery Ranch is well suited to the client who wants the intensive experience of an isolated treatment program that provides an introduction to 12-step philosophy and the foundations of a sober support system.